Ireland

So to cut a long story short, My brother had a flat above Eamon Langtons pub, so it was easy to head down for a few pints, and as my brother frequented the bar quite often Eamon knew him well.

I was in Kilkenny for Arts Week which was around the second week in August in the year of our lord 1979, all the store fronts would be painted and at the time, the pubs would stay open until three which was a bonus. It’s probably true to say that some pubs really didn’t close during the festival, they just closed the doors for a while to give the impression of closed!

So Thin Lizzy was playing in Kilkenny and after the concert they went to Langtons for a few pints to relax. Of course entry was restricted to who you know basis, very important in Ireland is who you know, and as I knew my brother I was allowed entry!

So I remember Phil Lynott was at the bar Guinness in hand, having a intellectual conversation about music with the locals. At some point he started talking about his soon to be wife Caroline Crowther daughter of English comedian Leslie Crowther. Phil said his soon to be father in law stated, what more could I want in a son-in-law, he’s black, Irish & illegitimate! he said it jokingly so he was cool with it. they were different times and people were more tolerant of some things, no judging!

Needless to say some of the group attending the after party in Langtons were bookies. And later on they started betting on anything that was capable of being bet on! I am not sure but later on in the night as it went late I had switched to coke, had a little sense back then. Well for no apparent reason I started balancing the coke bottles one on top of the other. This gained an immense amount of attention from the betting establishment, with the conversation moving to how many I could balance? I had three one on top of the other but the bar top was in the way so I couldn’t fit another upright. When I said I would try to stack the next one on its side the betting became a frenzy! My brother and a cousin became involved and many weeks of wages were put on the line.

Well the fact I am writing this is because I was successful and there was an uproar as money changed hands. I am not sure how much money moved that night, but after my brother and myself split the winnings I had about three hundred Irish pounds, which was quite a bit back in 1979.

No names were changed to protect anyone, it’s all true as well as I can remember. I spent my winnings in the pub!

Having lived in London, Ireland and now Los Angeles for many years, I would like to relate my experiences having used the healthcare systems in all three countries. First I must say I believe in universal healthcare, reason is a no brainer; I have lived in countries that have it; and anyone who is against it obviously has never used it!

But let’s put a few misconceptions to rest:

Politicians do not make medical decisions in universal health systems, doctors do! The difference is the funding is coming from the government and not a for profit company, which means the treatment will be paid for. Now that doesn’t mean there aren’t budgets in a universal system, there are. But denying patient care is never an option. In the states we have a for profit system that pays the doctors per every test they put through. Hence there are many tests in the states that are not needed but make money for someone. In Europe they don’t bother with needless tests, and the government pays less. Also doctors in the States make on average twice as much as any other doctor on the planet. This is because the charges are then sent the the insurance member as higher premiums, the consumer has no say in the matter. With no competition and no accountability prices for medical care in the states have skyrocketed and the care remains about 37th place world wide.

So it’s 1990 and I am living in Ireland, I get sick and need to go to the doctor. Although we have both an insurance system and a national health system I have no insurance. So I go to my doctor, pay him £16 ($20) in cash for the visit. I get a course of antibiotics which cost me about £30. Total is £46 and this is without insurance, never needed permission from anyone. The reason there was a charge is I was working and could afford to pay. If on the other hand I had cancer and required lots of medication, the medication would have been free. Even today there is a maximum that you pay every month, about €90. If you need more than that the government will pick up the tab.

No system is perfect, and governments will always wrestle with costs. But in the end when society excepts the medical care is part of the services you get from paying taxes. It just free’s you up, knowing your medical is there is comforting.
To think that many people in the USA (working people) don’t have access to healthcare because the insurance system says no; is just amazing!
In the civilized countries, where government has a obligation to look after it’s people; to look at the American healthcare system Is to look at society that just doesn’t give a shit! Cares more about profit than people. I will never understand that kind of society. It seems that pure unrestrained capitalism can be just as bad for the average citizen as communism run amok!
Ok so I am a bit passionate about this. I just think in a civilized society, I pay taxes, I would like some comfort in knowing society has my back.
In the states my taxes pay for bureaucracy, police, fire, military.
Not much has been upgraded on infrastructure in years. Maybe the USA is going the way of Rome, it was taxes to pay for the military in a crumbling society that killed Rome!
Sounds familiar!